Stage-specific antibody response of Mastomys natalensis during the course of Dipetalonema viteae infection

Stage-specific haemagglutinating (HA) and precipitin antibodies (PA) to infective larvae (L3), adult worms and microfilariae (mf) have been demonstrated in sera of Mastomys natalensis during the course of Dipetalonema viteae infection using indirect haemagglutination (IHA) and Ouchterlony's gel-diffusion tests. L3-specific HA antibody titre was shown to be quite low and lasted for shorter period whereas adult-specific antibody response was significantly higher and persisted for longer duration (beyond day 240 post exposure). No precipitin antibody to L3 stage could be detected, however, significant adult-specific antibody was detected which ultimately tapered off by day 210 post exposure (p.e.). In contrast, mf-specific PA which appeared at the beginning of patency, never disappeared even at the late stage of infection. Mf-specific HA antibody appeared at early incubation period (day 15 p.e.) and after exhibiting two peaks, one in the midst of prepatent period (day 30 p.e.) and the other on day 180 p.e. persisted at low level during the late stage of infection when amicrofilaraemia developed.